{
  "abstract": "Inroduction: Microbiological contamination on beef carcasses shortens shelf-life and poses substantial food-safety risks. The application of RNA-based analysis nowadays enables insights into the potentially active fraction of microbial communities by targeting ribosomal RNA rather than DNA.\n\nMethods: Here, we profiled the rRNA-derived microbiota present at three critical stages of cattle slaughter, skinning, splitting, and chilling, in an Austrian slaughterhouse, using 16S rRNA cDNA sequencing (Illumina MiSeq).\n\nResults: While microbial alpha diversity was similar across the three processing stations, PERMANOVA revealed a statistically significant effect of the processing step on microbial community composition. Carcasses at skinning and chilling harbored high relative abundances of rRNA-derived Pseudomonas and the Escherichia-Shigella group. The high relative abundance of Pseudomonas spp., a psychrotrophic spoilage-associated genus, suggests potential metabolic activity and a possible contribution to quality deterioration at low temperatures, while the Escherichia-Shigella group is commonly used as an indicator of possible fecal contamination and hygiene deficiencies. Eperythrozoon (Mycoplasma) was more abundant at the splitting stage and, to a lesser extent, at the chilling stage, suggesting that some cattle may enter the slaughter already colonized and facilitating cross-contamination during carcass manipulation. The subsequent decline during chilling aligns with the cold sensitivity and limited environmental persistence of Eperythrozoon (Mycoplasma) .\n\nDiscussion: These findings demonstrate the value of RNA-based approaches for delineating the active fraction of carcass-associated microbiota, with potential to inform interventions that enhance meat hygiene and safety.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Centre for Food Science, Clinical Department for Farm Animals and Food System Transformation, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna , ,",
    "Centre for Veterinary Public Health and One Health, Clinical Department for Farm Animals and Food System Transformation, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna , ,",
    "Clinical Centre for Population Medicine in Fish, Pig and Poultry, Clinical Department for Farm Animals and Food System Transformation, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna , ,",
    "Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen , ,"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Muhammad Sharjeel Chaughtai"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Franz-Ferdinand Roch"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Sarah Thalguter"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Tea Movsesijan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Beate Conrady"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Monika Dzieciol"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Martin Wagner"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Evelyne Selberherr"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/26yxf4x8aswwz.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fmicb.2026.1946469",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13662132/?tool=EBI",
  "id": "26yxf4x8aswwz",
  "issns": [
    "1664-302X"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13662132",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1103|Meat and Animal Product Quality"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214919861",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13662132/pdf/?tool=EBI",
  "pmcid": "PMC13662132",
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-30",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/26yxf4x8aswwz.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:20Z",
      "native_id": "PMC:PMC13662132",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13662132"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:12Z",
      "native_id": "10.3389/fmicb.2026.1946469",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2026.1946469/full"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:1103|Meat and Animal Product Quality",
      "subfield": "zoology-behaviour"
    }
  ],
  "title": "RNA-based characterization of ribosomally active microbial communities during beef slaughtering",
  "title_text": "RNA-based characterization of ribosomally active microbial communities during beef slaughtering",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:12Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/26yxf4x8aswwz",
  "venue": "Frontiers in microbiology",
  "versions": []
}